Algeria Plans to Develop LNG as Marine Fuel

Source: Algeria Times 10/28/2014, Location: Africa

Algeria plans to embark on the development of LNG as marine fuel for ships.

This project has been examined during an International seminar on Development of LNG as marine fuel held Monday in Algiers by the company of the distribution and marketing of petroleum and derivatives (NAFTAL) to present the opportunities for development of this sector in Algeria.

This is an "emerging technology" which is being recently used by some countries and for which growth prospects are "promising" while Algeria is big LNG producer, Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy, Ahmed Messili said.

The development of LNG as marine fuel may enable Algeria to become an “important player" in this field, he said during the meeting.

Samir Houghlaouen, an official at NAFTAL, noted that even if the current conditions did not allow the expansion of the marine LNG, its future, however, remains promising due to the growing use of natural gas in the global maritime transport.

He also indicated that the actions taken to protect the environment in the global shipping have helped to establish an international consensus on the need to implement strict rules to protect the maritime area, which is to increase the share of clean fuel in the bunkering of vessels.

By its geographic position and the extend of its coastline on the Mediterranean sea, Algeria has to work to emerge as "leading player" in the bunkering of ships using Marin LNG.